Government Lawyers, Legal Services Branch

Agency Purpose

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is an independent statutory authority established by the Australian Government to maintain an impartial and independent electoral system for eligible voters through active electoral roll management, efficient delivery of polling services, and targeted education and public awareness programs.

The AEC’s values and commitments

The AEC values and commitments are an essential component of our operating environment and frame how AEC staff work. The AEC's focus is on electoral integrity through the values of quality, agility and professionalism.

The Team

The Legal Services Branch is a small and dynamic team that provides legal, commercial and regulatory advice and conducts investigations to ensure the integrity of Commonwealth electoral systems and processes. The Branch also has an active role supporting and increasing capabilities across the AEC through training and guidance.

The Branch is headed by the Chief Legal Officer and is divided into three teams: Corporate Law, Regulatory Law and Electoral Law. The Branch is primarily based in Canberra and in Brisbane.

The Opportunities

We are looking to attract legal talent to fill vacancies, and create a merit pool for future opportunities, at the Australian Public Service level 5 and 6. Government Lawyers manage and undertake the day-to-day matters relating to the provision of legal advice and services to all areas of the AEC. 

The duties of the positions involve being responsible for undertaking complex and/or sensitive legal work under broad direction, including providing high quality legal advice, undertaking research and analysis of legal issues and participating in section planning and aligning longer term plans with the AEC’s goals and objectives.

The Corporate Law team provides advice to the AEC on matters that affect the day-to-day running of the agency. The dynamic nature of the agency’s operations and surge in the lead up to electoral events means the team advises on a diverse range of matters.

You will have the opportunity to contribute to the team in the following practice areas:

Commercial Law - The AEC enters into both simple and complex agreements to support the delivery of electoral events. As a Government Lawyer you will have an opportunity to provide advice on contracts and procurements that are crucial to event delivery. To be successful in this space you will need to have a solution focused approach, and willingness to understand the intricacies of election delivery and the public policy considerations that effect how the AEC conducts its business. 

The AEC is also undertaking a significant IT transformation project (INDIGO). INDIGO is an agile technology platform that will transform the AEC’s delivery of electoral services and ensure ongoing integrity of the electoral system The program will transform the information systems that the AEC uses to deliver electoral services, ensuring we meet the needs of voters into the future. This includes the development of new systems for election management, candidate management and electoral roll management. The project is supported by complex procurements and contractual arrangements each of which will offer you an opportunity to apply your commercial legal skills to ensure the program is well positioned to succeed.

Employment Law - The AEC engages workers across Australia. It does so through several mechanisms including under the Public Service Act, Commonwealth Electoral Act and through labour hire arrangements. In the lead up to electoral events the number of workers and the diversity of locations surges with the AEC employing more than 100,000 workers for polling day at locations all over the country (including remote areas).

This context leads to a diverse range of employment law matters many of which require quick resolution to allow the AEC to successfully deliver and plan for elections. 

Outside of election periods you will have the opportunity to contribute to legal questions relating to workforce strategy, enterprise bargaining and the managing employment related litigation, engagement with oversight bodies, and advising on employment policies and procedures.

Privacy Law - The Corporate Law team is responsible for assisting and advising on the appropriate management of the AEC’s personal information holdings. These are significant, primarily because the AEC manages the Electoral Roll for Federal and State Elections. If you are an Australian citizen aged 18 and over, you are required by law to keep your details on the electoral roll correct and up to date. The Commonwealth Electoral Act also governs the supply of elector information to other bodies.

As a result, the AEC takes is privacy obligations very seriously. As part of the Corporate Law team, you will have an opportunity to contribute to the AEC continuing to build its expertise in personal information management, advise on privacy incidents and provide general privacy advice.

To excel you’ll have:

• Demonstrated ability to perform the duties of a Government Lawyer and well-developed ability to analyse issues and provide high quality Legal Services.
• A high standard of attention to detail and effective oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work under limited supervision, take initiative, meet deadlines, and support management of a legal practice.
• Proven ability to work within a team and lead legal matters to ensure high quality outputs, including building team capability to maintain a high level of expertise and encourage career development.
• Experience in developing and actively managing key internal and external relationships, including collaborating with key stakeholders to identify opportunities, achieve outcomes and facilitate cooperation.
• Personal drive and integrity whilst achieving results within legislative and budget parameters.
• A degree in law from an Australian tertiary institution, admission to practice in Australia as a legal practitioner and a practising certificate (or ability to acquire one)

 Eligibility

• AEC employees must be Australian citizens.
• Any person who is, and seen to be active in political affairs, and intends to publicly carry on this activity, may compromise the strict neutrality of the AEC and cannot be considered.
• Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain a character clearance.
• Applicants are required to consent to, undergo, obtain and maintain the security clearance required for this role.
• Applicants may be required to undertake psychometric testing as part of this recruitment process.